Gavin DeGraw performs Wednesday at Track 29

Sunday, January 1, 1905

IF YOU GOWhat: Gavin DeGraw featuring David Nail.When: 8 p.m. Wednesday.Where: Track 29, 1400 Market St.Admission: $25 in advance, $28 at the door ($3 fee for ages 18-20).Phone: 521-2929.Venue website: www.track29.co.THE OPENERGrammy-nominated country singer/songwriter David Nail will open for Gavin DeGraw. Nail is signed to the MCA Nashville label and worked with Miranda Lambert producing duo Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke on his debut album. In January, he released "Let It Rain," the first single off his second studio album, "The Sound of a Million Dreams." The song hit No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers and Hot Country charts.

DID YOU KNOW• In 2007, Gavin DeGraw and his brother, Joey, opened an Americana bar, The National Underground, in New York City.• The music video to DeGraw's single "Chariot" was directed by "Scrubs" star Zach Braff.• DeGraw's father was a prison guard, which DeGraw references in his best-known song, "I Don't Want To Be."• He attended Boston's Berklee College of Music at the same time as his pop songwriting peer, John Mayer.

Most artists would consider themselves lucky to write one or two songs in their entire career worthy of standing alone as singles. Gavin DeGraw had three on his first record.

In addition to "Follow Through" and the title track, 2003's "Chariot" yielded the New York-based singer/songwriter's best-known song, "I Don't Want To Be," a soulful rock ballad popularized as the theme music to the teen drama "One Tree Hill."

"Chariot" was eventually certified platinum for sales over 1 million and laid a foundation of popularity that has continued through three subsequent records, all of which have peaked in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 chart.

Thursday, DeGraw launched a two-week tour in support of his latest album, "Sweeter," which was released Sept. 20. He also has been announced as a celebrity contestant on the 14th season of the ABC reality show "Dancing With the Stars."

According to online database Setlist.fm, "Sweeter" has provided the bulk of DeGraw's set lists at recent shows, along with a smattering of career hits, such as "I Don't Want To Be" and "Chariot." DeGraw worked with numerous producers on the album, which he described in his online bio as a marked shift in tone from his earlier albums.

"This is the first album I've made where I felt ready to explore the more sexual side of my nature in my music," DeGraw said. "It's not only about my feelings of being in love, although I do tap into those elements on this album. ... This is the funkiest, sultriest record I've ever made. It satisfied a lot of things for me that I wanted to have satisfied musically."

Track 29 founder and co-owner Adam Kinsey said DeGraw's show is expected to sell out, a pace that further buttresses his belief in the local popularity of pop singer/songwriters based on the success of Mat Kearney's show there on Jan. 23.

"We're happy to have Gavin DeGraw and, actually, he's bringing David Nail, who is a headline act in his own right," Kinsey said. "Since Gavin is on 'Dancing With the Stars,' I'm sure his fame will skyrocket even further."